Mowing-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. A. LEONARD.

MOWING MACHINE.

No. 275,227. Patented Apr.3, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD A. LEONARD, OF FITGHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

MOWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,227, dated April 3, 1883.

Application filed February 6, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD A. LEONARD, of Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of mowing-machines in which the finger-bar is hinged to a main frame and the pole and drivers seat are attached to a top frame, said main frame being pivoted on the axle of the machine and the top frame to the main frame, so that each can swing upwardly to some extent independently of the other.

The invention has for its object, first, to improve the construction of the main frame, so that it will combine lightness and strength, and will securely support the finger-bar; secondly, to combine in one casting the top frame, the tool-box, and the axle sleeve and ratchet of the lifting-lever.

To these ends my invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of the machine, the top frame being removed. Fig. 2 represents a top View of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the machine, showing both the main and top frames. Fig. etrepresents a top view of the machine as shown in Fig. 3. Fig.5 represents a section on line 00 00, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 represents a section on line 3 Fig. 5.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A represents the main frame, which is formed with a tubular socket, B, for the axle, and a tubular socket, G, at right angles to the socket B for the shaft E, that drives the cutters through the medium of the crank-wheel F and pitman G, the shaft E being geared to the axle in the usual or any suitable manner, so as to receive motion therefrom. The rear portion of the main frame having the socket B is of considerable width, but its forward portion is much reduced in width, its sides curving inwardly in both directions, so that the forward end is but little wider than the diameter of the socket O. The main frame I is provided at its forward end with a substantially horizontal seat, S.

H represent stout bars, of wrough t-iron or other suitable material, securely bolted to the main frame at right angles to each other, so as to form an angularextension of the frame, the bar H being bolted to the narrow forward end of the frame, resting against the seat S, and being made horizontal transversely thereby, and extending substantially in line or parallel with the finger-bar J, while the bar I is bolted to the rear portion of the frame and extends forward to the outer end of the bar H, to which it is bolted. The main frame, when in its normal position, extends downward diagonally from the axle, and the bars H I extend downward from the. frame, so that the point where their outer ends meet is lower than the forward end of the main frame. The shoe K of the finger-bar is hinged to the outer end of the bar H, the latter being enlarged and perforated to receive the pivot L, passing through perforated lugs M on the shoe K. It will be seen that by the provision of the angular extension formed by the bars H lthemainframeis made very light, and at the same time strong and rigid at its forward portion, and constitutes a firm support for the finger-bar and its cutters. Said extension so braces and supports the fin ger-bar that in case the latter comes in contact with a fixed obstruction the main frame cannot be caused thereby to turn under the machine and act as a lever to raise one of the wheels from the ground and unseat the driver, as in many machines heretofore made, but, on the other hand, the rigid extension will resist any violent shock upon the finger-bar and cause the machine to swing around horizontally. Strength and lightness and security from accident are therefore combined in the main frame by the described construction.

M represents the top frame, supporting the pole N, the tool-box O, and the drivers seat.

The top frame is cast in one piece, including the seat-standard 7. The top frame is extended backwardly in arms 8 8, which are pivoted to lugs 9 9, projecting backwardly from the axle-socket B, so that the weight of the top frame, its attachments, and the driveris caused to assist the driver in lifting the main frame by the lifting-lever, the latter being connected with the bar H of the main frame by a chain, R, and held at any desired angle by the engagement of the dog 5 with the ratchet-teeth 4. The labor of raising the main frame and the tingerbar is thus reduced by the Weight of the top frame to the minimum. By casting the top frame in one piece with all the parts described its cost and the labor required in making the machine are materially lessened.

' I claim- 1. In the herein-described mowing-machine, the combination of the main frame A, hinged upon the axle and tapered to a narrow neck at its forward end, the transverse rigid metal bar bolted rigidly to the forward neck of the main Frame and terminating in an eye or socket for the passage of the bolt upon which the shoe is hinged, and the rigid metal bar I, bolted rigidly at its rear end to the main framenearthe l axle and extending forward therefrom parallel t0 theline of draft of the machine, and bolted at its front end to the transverse bar H, all said parts constituting a very light,-strong, rigid, and economical extended frame for the attachment and support of the cutting apparatus, as set forth.

2. In the herein-described mowing-machine, the top frame, M, having the pole-socket 2, the tool-box O, the axle or stud 3, projecting from the end of the tool-box and serving to support the lifting-lever, the ratchet-teeth 4, for the engagement of the spring-dog of the lifting-lever, and the seat-standard socket, all said parts being cast integral with the frame and arranged with respect to each other as herein shown and described.

In testimony Whereof'I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses, this 31st day of January,

RICHARD A. LEONARD.

\Vitnesses t O. F. BROWN, A. L. WHITE. 

